A NEW FOOTBALL TRADITION TAKES ROOT
U.Va. and FSU, Linked by Jefferson Ideals,
Create Jefferson-Eppes Trophy
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 19 -- On behalf of the
University of Virginia, President John T. Casteen III will be the
first recipient of the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy at a reception at
Carr's Hill on Friday, Sept. 20 at 3:30 p.m. Annually, the trophy
will go to the victorious institution following each
Virginia/Florida State football game. The trophy commemorates the
dedication of these two universities to Jeffersonian ideals and
encourages friendly, spirited competition and fair play.
Beverly Spencer, vice president for University Relations at
Florida State University, accompanied by a contingent from FSU, will
present the trophy in recognition of the University of Virginia
Cavaliers' upset victory over the University of Florida Seminoles in
last season's game.
Terry Holland, Director of Athletic Programs and Craig
Littlepage, Associate Director of Athletics will join Casteen for
this inaugural occasion.
The idea for the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy was conceived by
Florida State University President Talbot D'Alemberte. Francis W.
Eppes, grandson of U.Va. founder Thomas Jefferson, was a three-time
mayor of Tallahassee and president of the Board of Trustees of the
Seminary of the West, now Florida State University.
As a teenager, Eppes received the following advice from his
grandfather:
While you endeavor, by a good store of learning, to
prepare yourself to become a useful and distinguished member of your
country, you must remember that this never can be without uniting
merit with your learning.
Growing out of traditions that are of historical
significance to each institution, the trophy is composed of an
intricately wrought silver pitcher that was presented to Eppes by
the citizens of Tallahassee in the 1840s. It is set on a wooden
base crafted from U.Va.'s historic "McGuffey Ash" designed by David
Ramazani, a Charlottesville wood craftsman. The McGuffey Ash was
planted in 1825 at U.Va. and was the oldest tree on the grounds as
well as the oldest ash tree in Virginia before succumbing to a
deadly tree disease in 1990. It was named for the Reverend William
Holmes McGuffey, a long-time professor of moral philosophy at the
university and the author of a famous series of children's books
popularly known as McGuffey Readers.
The trophy will remain in Charlottesville until after the
Oct. 26 game which is being played at Florida State this season. To
the victor belong the spoils.
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September 19, 1996
For more information, call U.Va. News Services at (804)
924-7116. Television reporters should call our TV News Office at
(804) 924-7550.